courtsiden.adj.adv.
/ˈkɔːtsʌɪd/, U.S. /ˈkɔrtˌsaɪd/ Now chiefly Sport.
A. n.
The side of a court, or the area nearest to a court (in various senses). Now esp.: the area immediately adjacent to a tennis court, basketball court, etc.
ΚΠ
1585–6 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) II. iii. 474 (note) Work over the rotten rowe in the court side.
1687 tr. G. Brice New Descr. Paris 17 A Gallery which reaches the whole length of the Kings Apartment on the Court-side.
1738 S. Whatley tr. K. L. von Pöllnitz Mem. IV. 41 From the Steps on the Court Side is a Prospect of a large Canal, lin'd on each Side with a Row of Elms.
1895 H. S. C. Nevius Life J. L. Nevius 216 Large glass windows opened..upon the court in front and the vegetable garden behind... On the court side was a veranda.
1976 N.Y. Times: Abstr. (Nexis) 5 Sept. v. 4/3 [The match umpire] allowed Pohmann to be treated at courtside for cramps.
1992 Times of India 30 July 1/5 As Pae failed to clinch the tie-breaker, Ramesh Krishnan got up from the courtside shaking his head.
2011 New Yorker 25 Apr. 28/2 Standing at courtside during warmups.., Lieberman mentioned that she'd just got a call from an ESPN reporter.
B. adj. (attributive).
Of, relating to, or happening by the side of a tennis court, basketball court, etc.; adjacent or positioned next to a court of this type.
ΚΠ
1911 Joplin (Missouri) Daily Globe 29 Dec. 3/1 [It seemed] the opposing players..might enliven the situation by an exchange of fistcuffs [sic]... This was the only point, it seemed to courtside spectators, when a little pep appeared likely to be injected into the affair.
1973 Daily Tel. 22 Sept. 19/8 The crowd..naturally included show business celebrities and jet-setters who had paid £40 for court-side seats.
1990 Vanity Fair Nov. 178/1 Marla Ann Maples..was the main courtside attraction.
2006 Ace Tennis Oct. 35/2 Purists might tut at the frequent courtside comings and goings by spectators..but it certainly adds to the relaxed atmosphere.
C. adv.
At or by the side of a tennis court, basketball court, etc.; near the court, esp. as a spectator.
ΚΠ
1940 San Antonio (Texas) Express 15 Mar. 3 a/3 The third match is to be a mixed-doubles exhibition. Tickets for the program will sell for $1.10 courtside, 75 cents in the stands.
1966 Raleigh (W. Va.) Reg. 19 July 7/5 The 14-year-old modest blond netter from Kanawha County sat courtside Monday waiting his turn for the initial elimination round.
1993 Harper's Mag. Apr. 39/2 He specializes in ironic detachment and normally shows up courtside with his Walkman.
2015 Forever Sports May 14/1 You've known who Kim Sears is for years. The pretty girl courtside, supporting her now fiancé Andy Murray at the tennis.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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n.adj.adv.1585